The weather takes its toll on things, and our car is no exception. Sun, snow, rain, dust, and other elements can age a car faster, especially if we “help” things along with habits that don’t contribute to healthy, effective car maintenance.
Our car is one of the most expensive purchases we’ll ever make in our life, so it only follows that we should be more careful and diligent in our car maintenance habits. Sadly, though, we don’t always give our car the care it deserves.
Chances are we are guilty of some, if not all, of these 6 habits that speed up the wear and tear on our car that causes it to age prematurely (as well as put a serious dent in our car maintenance budget):
1. Unnecessary warm-up and/or prolonged idling
Engines are not designed to idle for long periods, which is why newer engines have enough lubrication to eliminate the need for a warm-up. When you leave your engine idling for too long, you run the risk of your spark plugs becoming less efficient. This happens because in idle mode, the fuel is only partially combusted, resulting in a residue buildup on the cylinder walls that mess with the spark plugs.
If you need warmer interiors in the cold months, you warm up your engine for no longer than two minutes.
2. Speeding
When you drive too fast, you will then have to brake harder, more abruptly. Too many sudden and hard brakes inevitably take a toll on your tire treads. Not to mention, of course, that speeding results in accidents that can, at the very least, lead to external/cosmetic damage to your car.
3. Poor tire maintenance
Improper tire inflation (over-inflation or under-inflation) leads to fuel waste and the wearing of tire treads. In addition, under-inflated tires can cause you to drive on treads toward the outside of the tire, which can have an adverse effect on your car’s handling and braking. Eventually, this condition can end in a tire blowout.
4. Keeping your foot on the brake or clutch
Keeping your foot on the brake pedal is one way to wear your brakes down needlessly. Keeping your other foot practically on the clutch while driving will also wear that down needlessly, and result in a costly repair job, which you definitely don’t need.
5. Neglecting the regular wash
Neglecting the regular car wash not only leaves your car looking dirty and crummy, and therefore old and worn, it also gives contaminants time to cause damage, like corrosion. Constant exposure to water, dirt, and grime result in rusting. And if mud remains caked on your rims, that can affect your tire balance and cause your car to shake.
6. Exposing your dashboard to the sun
Dashboards can blister, crack, fade, or get damaged some other way by the harsh rays of the sun, UV radiation, and the extreme heat that builds up inside your car if you leave it out in the open on a hot day.
If you’re guilty of some or all of the above, don’t waste any more time putting a stop to these habits. Remember that adopting the best practices in car maintenance helps you stay covered by your manufacturer’s warranty, or get a good deal when shopping for extended warranty or a vehicle service contract once the manufacturer’s warranty runs out.
If your warranty is nearing expiration, now’s a good time to start shopping. Check out our products.